Chapter Fifty-Six: Guarding the Imperial Palace

The next day, as dawn broke, a call came from outside the cave.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

Jiang Huan woke up with a start and found herself leaning on Huo Lin's shoulder without realizing it.

The man's broad shoulders shielded her from the morning chill, and his hand rested lightly on her waist, neither offending her nor causing her to slip.

Huo Lin saw her open her eyes and said in a low voice.

"woke up?"

Jiang Huan quickly sat up straight, her first reaction being to touch the corner of her mouth.

Good, it's dry, no drooling.

It was only then that she realized that Huo Lin's outer robe was still draped over her shoulders.

He sat in the morning dew for an unknown amount of time, wearing only a thin undergarment.

Jiang Huan wished she could disappear into a crack.

She just let the wounded guard her all night, and then went to sleep soundly?

"Why didn't Your Majesty wake me up..." Jiang Huan muttered softly, her head hanging low.

Huo Lin stretched his stiff shoulders, glanced at Jiang Huan, and said nothing.

She sleeps like a kitten; how could I bear to wake her?

[Besides, this is a great opportunity for me to get to know her; I even think the people outside have arrived too early.]

Jiang Huan was speechless for a moment, then casually straightened her clothes and lowered her head even further.

Who can shake the pink bubbles out of the Emperor's head?

Can't we look at the current environment, this people are so obsessed with being in love?

In that short time, the shouts from outside the cave were getting closer and closer.

Before long, several guards appeared at the cave entrance, including Shadow Thirteen, who had previously been responsible for protecting Jiang Huan.

Everyone was overjoyed to see that Huo Lin and Jiang Huan were safe and sound.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, your subordinate has arrived late to rescue you. Please punish me!"

Huo Lin waved his hand, indicating to the guards that they didn't need to be so polite.

"Get up, we'll talk about the rest when we get back."

The guards all said "Yes," forming a circle around Huo Lin and Jiang Huan, protecting them in the middle.

When he returned to the palace, Wang Degui was already waiting at the door. When he saw the bandages on Huo Lin's body, he burst into tears.

"Imperial Physician! Imperial Physician, please examine the Emperor!"

The imperial physician had been summoned and was waiting. Upon seeing the situation, he immediately stepped forward to examine Huo Lin's injuries.

After a thorough examination, the imperial physician breathed a sigh of relief.

"These are just superficial abrasions, nothing serious to the shinbone. As long as Your Majesty takes the medicine properly, you will recover in no time."

Wang Degui was slightly relieved, but standing next to Huo Lin, he still couldn't stop his tears.

"My ancestors! What if something were to happen to you? How could this old servant face the late Emperor?"

Huo Lin let the old imperial physician bandage his wounds, his brow twitched, and he slightly lifted his eyelids.

"I am not dead yet."

"Pah! Pah! Pah!" Wang Degui slapped his thigh in frustration. "How could Your Majesty say such unlucky things! Look at this injury..."

He pointed to the bandage on Huo Lin's shoulder, his hand trembling violently, "If it were even an inch off, this old servant would have no choice but to atone with his death, waaaaah..."

Huo Lin kept a straight face, but there was no cold light in his eyes.

"I know what I'm doing."

Is he wailing at a funeral?

"I only suffered a minor scrape, why is he crying like I've died!"

Wang Degui had been by Huo Lin's side for many years, and he was not intimidated by Huo Lin's imposing manner.

Upon seeing the Emperor's stubborn demeanor, Wang Degui immediately burst into tears and grabbed Huo Lin's leg.

"Your Majesty! You are of inestimable worth. Please don't put yourself in such danger next time, lest you frighten this old servant to death..."

Huo Lin was speechless: "Let go."

"I won't let go!" Wang Degui hugged even tighter. "Unless His Majesty promises this old servant that he will never do such a dangerous thing again!"

This old bastard has gone too far!

[He's about to rip my pants off!]

Jiang Huan changed her clothes in the inner room and came out just in time to hear the conversation between the master and servant.

The more I listened, the more I wanted to laugh; the more I tried to hold it in, the more I couldn't help it.

It seems there is someone who can deal with him.

Jiang Huan simply hid behind the screen, her eyebrows curving into a smile as she secretly chuckled.

But then Huo Lin suddenly turned his head and caught sight of her.

"come over."

Jiang Huan was caught red-handed and had no choice but to obediently walk over.

"Are you feeling unwell? Let the imperial physician take a look."

[Wang Degui, stop crying! Consort Zhuang is watching! I'm utterly humiliated!]

[Saying I shouldn't put myself in danger? I'm not stupid...]

[But if she encounters a similar situation again, I would still dare to jump.]

[No, this can't happen again. I must have someone protect her properly.]

Jiang Huan's heart stirred, but she hesitated for a moment before shaking her head.

"I am unharmed."

She was well protected; she didn't catch a cold or get injured.

But Huo Lin was still worried, so he insisted that the imperial physician examine Jiang Huan as well, and only let her leave after confirming that she was really alright.

After a flurry of activity, and finally settling down, Huo Lin was already sitting in front of the study, with no free time at all.

In just one night, the memorials sent from all over the country piled up considerably.

Huo Lin flipped through them one by one; there were too many things to deal with.

Jiang Huan's repeated attempts to kill her were, in essence, also due to her involvement in the political situation at court.

After a moment's hesitation, Huo Lin said to Wang Degui, "Issue the decree that we shall depart for the palace in two days."

Wang Degui grew anxious: "His Majesty's injuries have not yet healed..."

"It's alright, go ahead and do it."

Huo Lin simply raised his hand, stopping Wang Degui from trying to persuade him.

Seeing that there was no room for maneuver, Wang Degui had no choice but to do as Huo Lin instructed.

The message about returning to the palace was quickly relayed.

Not long after he left, a dark figure knelt down in front of Huo Lin as if it had appeared out of the ground.

"Your subordinate greets Your Majesty."

Huo Lin had a secret guard battalion, whose guards obeyed only Huo Lin's orders and belonged solely to him.

The Shadow Thirteen who was responsible for protecting Jiang Huan this time was from the Dark Guard Camp.

When Huo Lin saw the person, a hint of solemnity appeared in his eyes.

"explain."

The man in black took out a scroll of bamboo slips from his robes and presented it with both hands.

"This is a clue that my subordinates have uncovered."

Huo Lin frowned more and more as he looked at the clues presented by Ying Da.

What a fine Consort Jia!

Since you're so eager to cause trouble, I'll put an end to your plans!

Before long, an imperial edict was issued from the study.

In Consort Jia's palace, the maids, having learned that they were to return to the palace, were busy packing their belongings.

"Your Highness, shall we take this gold hairpin with us?"

Consort Jia waved her hand casually: "Take it with you..."

As soon as he finished speaking, a eunuch rushed in.

"Your Highness, His Majesty has decreed that you may remain at the temporary palace."

"What?" Consort Jia looked incredulous, thinking she had misheard.

"Say that to me again!"

The eunuch, keeping his eyes downcast and seemingly oblivious to his own thoughts, repeated, "His Majesty has decreed that you remain at the temporary palace."

Consort Jia's face turned ashen instantly, and the teacup in her hand shattered.

What do you mean by "temporarily staying at the palace"? This is clearly an attempt to banish her forever!

The emperor led the entire entourage back to the capital in a grand procession, but he imprisoned her alone in this temporary palace.

Without an imperial edict and without a time limit, how is this any different from being banished to the cold palace?

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger..." The palace maid knelt on the ground trembling.

"Get out of my way!" Consort Jia shoved the palace maid aside and stumbled as she ran outside.

She cannot stay here; she must see the Emperor!

"Get out of my way! Take a good look at my face. Do you think you, a lowly servant, can stop me?!"

Inside the study, Huo Lin was reviewing memorials.

Consort Jia ignored the guards' attempts to stop her and forced her way in.

"Your Majesty! What have I done wrong that you treat me like this?"

Huo Lin raised his eyes, his gaze chillingly cold.

"You've got guts."

He finished speaking and chuckled lightly; the chill was so intense it could freeze everything within a hundred feet.

"Indeed, if they didn't have the guts, they wouldn't dare to move the guards from Consort Zhuang's palace right under my nose."

Consort Jia was startled. Huo Lin hadn't moved an inch, yet he had already forced her to retreat.

"Why don't we take a look? According to the laws of the Great Liang Dynasty, how many times could this confession cost you your head?"

He raised his hand and flung a booklet at Consort Jia's feet.

When Consort Jia opened it, her face turned ashen.

It contained detailed records of how she planted spies and how she diverted guards...

"This...this is impossible..." Her lips trembled, and her carefully applied makeup was ruined by cold sweat.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Consort Jia suddenly struggled forward, knelt down at Huo Lin's feet, and grabbed the hem of Huo Lin's robe.

"Someone must have framed me!"

"Shut up."

Huo Lin kicked her away, his face cold and devoid of any pity.

"Considering the Lin family's contributions to the country, I will spare your life."

Huo Lin's voice was icy cold.

“But from today onwards, you shall rest and recuperate in the palace.”